Training Peaks Computrainer Plans

Hi Scott,

I've used Hunter's computrainer winter plan a couple of years ago and must say it worked really well. Not only helped me improve my FTP but also my cadence at FTP, something the plan focuses on.
Hunter's plans are focused on cyclist and, while i'm more of a triathlete, was very happy with the results.
If you are thinking of buying one i can only recommend it, but most importantly trust it until the end and you'll see the results.

Carlos

Thanks Carlos. I have focused on triathlons the last few years as well. I haven't ever felt strong on the bike so I want to focus more on the bike next year. I appreciate your input!

Scott

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by scomosr [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Has anyone ever used the computrainer training plans by Quentin Field-Boden or Hunter Allen? They have training plans there for the computrainer that come with downloadable .erg files for each workout.

Thanks for any thoughts on this anyone may have.

Scott

Hi Scott

I guess I would say this but the plans work really well, references available if required! The way I run mine is to provide a training plan at a certain cost and to also provide a library of .erg files to go with either that plan or any other plan I prepare. The .erg file library contains all the .erg files required for my plans as well as additional files such as test files and other titbits :-) A 12 week winter plan I currently sell for $39.95 and the .erg file library for $50.00, I prepare tailored plans as required. The total cost of getting going with a 12 week winter plan under my scheme is therefore $89.95 or £58.16, that's a daily cost roughly equal the cost of 30 minutes parking in many city centres [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/frown.gif[/IMG]

The reason I tend to do it this way is that I offer the libraries in 5W FTP increments allowing me to match the loads very accurately to the FTP of a rider. The other huge advantage, and this quite often happens, is that if a rider comes along with an FTP of perhaps 235W and buys the plan and the .erg library to go with it they may find that their original FTP estimate was not quite right and I can very easily then swap out the library to one scaled to an FTP either a little lower or higher, as required in the light of the new FTP information.

What I do is ask the plan purchaser to hook up their TrainingPeaks account to my TrainingPeaks coaching account and I can then provide a little initial support to get people going and make sure they are on the right track, I do not of course charge for this initial guidance or the hook-up to my coaching account!

Feel free to email me if you have any further queries. I can easily set you, or anyone else, up with a one week "taster" should you so wish for which there would of course be no charge, in this way you could see whether the methodology works for you [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/icon14.gif[/IMG]

All my plans are delivered through the TrainingPeaks interface, the basic TrainingPeaks account is available free of charge though of course many additional features are available to Premium Account users.

Kind regards,

Quentin.

why don't you provide files that allow the athlete to train at a prescribed percentage of FTP? That way it wouldn't matter what the FTP is as long as it has been tested reasonably accurately. As FTP goes up (determined by testing), the workout get harder.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CalicoCat [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

why don't you provide files that allow the athlete to train at a prescribed percentage of FTP? That way it wouldn't matter what the FTP is as long as it has been tested reasonably accurately. As FTP goes up (determined by testing), the workout get harder.

There are many ways to approach this sort of thing and in the end the folks preparing the plans select an approach that suits what they are trying to achieve, as conveniently as possible. As you may well know the way the CompuTrainer/.erg file training approach works uses .erg files to set the trainer loads and that .erg file is made up only of time/load based data, as illustrated in the clip from a .erg file below. The way .erg file training works does not offer, at the present time, the facility to use .erg files with an endlessly variable FTP, the only parameters you can change in a .erg file are time and the absolute wattage at a given point in time.

One option would be to distribute .mrc files (multi-rider course) to clients and they could run these using the RacerMate MultiRider software which does allow one to adjust one's FTP even on the fly. However, the MultiRider package is not owned by the majority of riders who tend to use the CompuTrainer Coaching Software (CompCS) to run .erg file workouts, this software being included as part of the CompuTrainer purchase and also being a free download from the RacerMate website.

I find that the way I approach this works well being based on FTP specific .erg file libraries. My clients essentially buy a "library for life". The client's TrainingPeaks account is linked to my coaching account and if a client has purchased a .erg file library and needs to change it for some reason I simply swap it out for him or her so that their library is always appropriate to their fitness level, the workouts in the libraries are all specified as percentages of FTP, in the extreme example below the session is for a rider with an FTP of 100W who is going to do 2x20 minute efforts at 80% of his or her FTP.

In effect the files/libraries I provide do exactly as you are suggesting, they allow athletes to train at a prescribed percentage of their FTP, simply by selecting the appropriate .erg file from their current library, it works a treat! [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

Kind regards,

Quentin.

[COURSE HEADER] VERSION = 2 UNITS = ENGLISH DESCRIPTION = 2x20 Minute isopower intervals at 80% of FTP. FILE NAME = 100WFTPRider_2x20m@80%Iso.erg MINUTES WATTS [END COURSE HEADER] [COURSE DATA] 0.0 40 2.0 40 2.0 50 7.0 50 7.0 60 15.0 60 15.0 80 17.5 80 17.5 55 20.0 55 Continues........

Good evening Quentin,

Cycling coach based in the States and wanted to purchase access to your erg file training library.

I'll be conducting multirider classes and would like to use a library from which to create innumerable mrc files for use in the group exercise environment.

Please let me know where to find the link to purchase access to your erg library.

Standing by...

Andrew Gonzalez

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by comnaver [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Good evening Quentin,

Cycling coach based in the States and wanted to purchase access to your erg file training library.

I'll be conducting multirider classes and would like to use a library from which to create innumerable mrc files for use in the group exercise environment.

Please let me know where to find the link to purchase access to your erg library.

Standing by...

Andrew Gonzalez

Hi Andrew

You need to login to your TrainingPeaks account and on the LHS of your screen select the "store" icon, you will find my .erg file libraries in there but as they stand at present they are all FTP specific in 5W increments. Have a look and then drop me an email and we can maybe sort something out, I have not done so yet but it would be possible, in principle, to make available to you a set of .mrc files which would I am sure be very helpful to you.

Thanks for getting in touch

Quentin.

Good afternoon Quentin,

You tell me what you asking price would be for the mrc files and then we can PayPal or perhaps transact through Training Peaks (TP)...whichever best suits your business model.

As individual clients need FTP based programs, I'll then purchase these ad hoc via TP.

I'd like to close the loop on the mrc library by week's end.

Standing by and thank you for the prompt reply...

Andrew

Good afternoon Quentin,

What is your e-mail address?

Standing by for how best to proceed...

Andrew

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